Dispensing device



May 25, 1937. Rs. PARKS I DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 25, 1936 kill Patented May 25, 1 937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

to be employed in any connection for which it may be found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a dispensing device whereby the paste may be expelled from the tube in a time saving, sanitary manner without the direct hand pressure on the tube, which has the tendency to distribute germs in the cracks of the soft metal tube brought about by curling with the fingers to apply pressure for forcing the paste from the tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a dispensing device for expelling toothpaste from a collapsible tube whereby when the tube has been emptied it will be formed as a smooth, fiat piece of metal with the former contents thereof completely expelled therefrom.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a dispensing device for the purpose set forth, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, conveniently operated, thoroughly efficient in its use, of a form capable of having a tube from which the paste is to be expelled readily installed therein, pleasing in appearance and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and are as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device when closed,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device in open position illustrating the collapsible tube arranged therein,

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 4,

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the device when closed, and

Figure 6 is a view looking towards the lower end of the device when closed.

The device includes a cabinet generally indicated at I, which includes a bottom 2, a top 3, a pair of side walls 4, 5, a back wall 6 and a front wall I. The bottom 2, top 3, side walls 4, 5 and back wall 6 are integral with each other. The front wall I is in the form of a hinged door and it is hinged to the front of the side wall 5, as at 8. The front wall I carries a latch 9 to engage a keeper I3 arranged on the inner face of the wall 4. The latch 9 also constitutes a handle. The top 3 has a vertical opening II which aligns with a vertical opening I2 formed in the bottom 2. The bottom 2 has centrally thereof an elongated horizontal slot I3. The back wall 6 has upper and lower keyhole-shaped openings I4 for receiving suspension means, not shown, for connecting the cabinet I to a support, not shown.

The inner faces of the side walls 4, 5, in proximity to the front wall I, have secured thereto vertically disposed strips I5, I6 having their rear faces grooved lengthwise thereof, as at [1, I8 respectively. The strips I5, IB extend from the bottom 2 to the top 3. The strips I5, I6 constitute guide members for a carriage I9. The latter comprises a shaft 20 provided at its ends with circular disks 2| which travel in the grooves I'I, I8 of the members I5, I6. Extending forwardly from shaft 20 is a horizontally disposed yoke 22 having its base 23 formed centrally with a vertically disposed interiorly threaded sleeve 24. The arms 25 of the yoke extend inwardly from the base 23 and are connected to the shaft 20.

Carried by the shaft 20 is a collapsing element 26 for the tube 21 which contains the paste. The collapsing element is of the rotating type and includes a hard core 28 carrying a resilient annulus 29. Collapsing element 26 is vertically movable and on its downward movement bears against the tube 21 for the purpose of collapsing it to expel the contents of the tube 21 through its neck 30 when the closure cap 3| is removed. The neck of the tube 30 extends through the slot I3 in the bottom 2 of cabinet I. The breast 32 of the tube seats on the said bottom 2. When the tube is positioned in the cabinet I it is arranged against the inner face of the back wall 6.

A propelling means 33 coacts with the sleeve 24 for the purpose of vertically moving the carriage I9. The propelling means 33 consists of a peripherally threaded rotatable member 34 of cylindrical cross section and is provided with a reduced upper end 35 and a reduced lower end 36 mounted in the openings I I, I2. The reduced ends of the member 34 provide the latter with upper and lower shoulders 31, 33 respectively. The portion of greatest diameter of the member 34 is peripherally threaded throughout, as at 39. The member 34 extends through the sleeve 24 and the internal threads of the latter mesh with threads 39 of member 34.

The reduced upper end of member 34 has a knob or thumb piece to facilitate the rotation of such member. On the rotation of the means 33 in one direction the collapsing element 26 will be caused to move downwardly and ride against the body of the tube 27 thereby collapsing the latter for the purpose of expelling the contents of the tube. When the means 33 is rotated in the opposite direction, the collapsing element 26 will be moved upwardly. The collapsing element collapses the tube to form its body into a smooth, fiat piece of metal when expelling the contents of the tube. The side wall 4 is provided at its upper end with a group of ventilating openings 4|.

What I claim is:

1. A dispensing device including a closed, upstanding cabinet adapted to support a collapsible tube lengthwise thereof and with the discharge end of the tube extended through the bottom thereof, a vertically movable carriage within the cabinet including a horizontally disposed yoke and a shaft journaled in the arms of the yoke, rotatable means engaging in and extending through the closed end of the yoke for vertically moving the carriage within the cabinet, said means being journaled in the top and bottom of the cabinet, spaced parallel upstanding guides within and anchored to opposed walls of the cabinet, a rotatable collapsing element carried by said shaft and positioned within the yoke for engaging with the tube to collapse the latter in a flat manner on the downward movement of the carriage, and discs mounted on the shaft and travelling in said guides.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 having the front of the cabinet in the form of a hinged door and a side of the cabinet provided in its upper portion with a group of ventilating open- 1ngs.

3. A dispensing device including a closed, upstanding cabinet'adapted to support a collapsible tube lengthwise thereof and with the discharge end of the tube extended through the bottom thereof, a horizontally disposed vertically movable carriage within the cabinet, rotatable means engaging with and extending through the front of said carriage for vertically moving it within the cabinet, said means being journaled in the top and bottom of the cabinet, a rotatable co-llapsing element mounted in the carriage for engaging with the tube to collapse the latter in a fiat manner on the downward movement of the carriage, spaced within and anchored to opposed walls of the carriage, and spaced discs opposing the ends of said element, supported from the carriage and travelling in said guides.

4. In a dispensing device for the purpose set forth, a vertically movable collapsing element for acollapsible tube, acabinet,a peripherally threaded rotatable means journaled in the top and bottom'of the cabinet and extending through the? latter, a carriage for said collapsing element and including a pair of rotatable disks and an interiorly threaded sleeve threadably engaging with said means whereby on. the rotation of said means said carriage will be vertically moved and bodilyshift the collapsing element therewith, spaced guides secured in the cabinet of said means, and spaced discs supported from the carriage, opposing the ends of said element and travelling in said guides.

ROBERT S. PARKS. 

